Catamenial device



Jan. 11 1927. 4 1,614,180

w. B. BENNET CATAMENIAL DEVICE F led y 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 11, 1927.

W. B. BENNET CATAMENIAL DEVICE File y 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

} UNITED STATES WALLIS B. BENNETT, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CATAMENIAL DEVICE.

Application filed July-30, 1925. Serial No. 47,013.

This invention relates to improvements in catamenial device, or belts for womens sanitary napkins, and is hereinafter more fully described.

One of the features of my invention is the provision of such a device which is easily and cheaply made andis found to be efiective and comfortable in use. It is washable, sanitary and adjustable. Another feature of the invention is that my improved device may be made out of a single strip or strap of elastic fabric or material commonly used in devices of this character. 1

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specification.

In that form of device embodying the fea tures of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my improved catamenial device.

Figure 2 is a similar view with the parts separated to show how the entire device may be made from a single strip of material. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing another modification, and Fig. 5 is a view in perspective showing another modification.

As shown in the drawings, the device comprises a belt 10, to the front of which is attached a depending pad retainer 11. Attached to the lower end of the pad retainer are two thigh circlets 12, having their upper ends attached to the belt as at 12. The pad retainer ll'is twice the width of the material used, the adjacent edges being fastened together at 13 as by sewing.

It is to be particularly noted that the lower ends of the thigh circlets are attached to the lower end of the pad retainer on a slant as indicated at 1 1. This is preferably ac-' complished by forming the thigh circlets from the projecting ends of the two strips constituting the pad retainer; making triangular plaits 1 1*- where the circlets join the retainer. By this construction the pad retainer 11 remains flat and there is no ten.- dency to form a pouch, sack, or pocket. The pad retainer being thus fiat, there is an even pull or strain on all parts of its surface and no greater pull or strain on the sides thereof. In other words, there is no tendency of the pad retainer to bulge or bag; but a uni form pressure is exerted on the pad at all points. 15 indicates the Kotex or other pad of absorbent material with which the device is used and this is placed under the pad retainer as shown. Owing to the flatness of the-retainer, as above described, and the absence of apouch, pocket or bulging thereof,

the pad is always held flat and never permitted to wad, gather, or fold, even though wet.

It is to be noted that the device may be made out of a single strip of fabric. In order to do this a strip of suflicient length is first curved at the central portion to form the belt 10, the projecting ends being bent downwardly at the front on the diagonal folds 16 and sewed together at 13 to form the pad retainer 11/ The ends are continued from the lower end of the retainer by the triangular plaits 14 (as above described) to form the thigh circlets; the extreme ends being attached to the belt at 12 It has been found that the pad 15 will be held in place without any pinning, sewing or other fastening of the pad to the device. Kotex and similar pads are frequently pro vided with pinning tabs. It has been found that when such pads are used with my device such pinning tabs may be cut off or folded around the pad.

If it should be desired, however, to pin the pad for extra security the device may be provided with the pinning tabs 17 and 18 at the front'end back of the belt, as shown in Fig. 3, to which the pinning tabs 19 and 20 of a pad 15 may be fastened.

In Fig. 4 a modified form of device is shown. In this form the upper ends 11 of the two strips forming the pad retainer are slightly separated where they are attached to the belt, a small V-sha-ped opening 20 being left. Vith this construction there will be exerted on the upper ends ll a slight side pull by the belt tending to separate them with a resultant upward pull on the pad retainer.

In the modified form Shown in Fig. 5, the upper ends of the thigh circlets are attached to the belt substantially at the point of attachment of the upper end of the pad retainer. This produces a number of advantages. The pad retainer is held in position not only by the elastic pull of the belt but also by the pull of the thigh circlets. With this construction also a greater part of the belt may be elastic; and there is less strain on the belt portions which otherwise would lie between the point of attachment of the pad retainer and the ends of the thigh circlets. Also the thigh circlets are more widely separated, thereby more accurately fitting into the gluteal grooves of the wearer and leaving a wider space at the rear.

It is obvious that with any of the forms shown, the pinning tabs 17 and 18 may be provided or not, as desired.

I realize that considerable variation is possible in the details of the constructions herein shown, and I do not intend tolimit myself thereto, except as pointed out in the following claim, in which it is my intention to claim all the novelty inherent in the devices as broadly as is permitted by the state of the art.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A device of the character described, made out of one strip of material, the middle portion being formed into a belt, the ends being brought down from said belt in front and fastened together at their edges to form a pad retainer, and then carried backwardly, upwardly, and forwardly from the lower end of said pad retainer and attached to the belt to form a pair of thigh circlets, triangular plaits being formed at the lower end of the pad retainer.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of July, 1925.

WALLIS B. BENNETT. 

